Cactus Rock

Walking along Acacia Avenue, you may feast your eyes on the homes and grounds of the core street of the Upper Rockridge neighborhood, but one exception stands out at 6240 Acacia: this rock peeking over the scene. (click it for full size) This appears to be Cactus Rock, attested to in old postcards about the ongoing development of this streetcar suburb (still served by the improbable bus route 59A). I can’t get a good look at it, but it appears to be a standard Franciscan knocker that is much smaller than the mysterious Rockridge Rock. To judge from the prospect at Alpine Terrace, the next street uphill from here, the views from the rock are fantastic.

I find the quest fascinating, so I couldn’t resist following your footsteps to Rockridge to look around.

There are some good views of Cactus Rock from further away than Acacia Avenue – the ground level foliage and houses on Acacia obscure the base of the rock. Interestingly, there is a good view from near the intersection of Glenbrook Drive and Bowling Drive. Another good view is available from the Mountain View Cemetery, looking across Broadway Terrace.